Christopher Brown, a 23-year-old from Aquebogue, Long Island, was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday after threatening to attack a synagogue in a disturbing social media post.
The post, shared on Twitter, now known as X, included the chilling statement: "Gonna ask a Priest if I should become a husband or shoot up a synagogue and die."
Brown's arrest came in November 2022 at Manhattan's Penn Station after police were alerted to his threatening messages.
Authorities seized a military-style knife, a ski mask, and a swastika arm patch from Brown at the time of his arrest. His accomplice, Matthew Mahrer, was also detained during the operation.
Weapons Seized in Connection to Threat
Following Brown's arrest, police searched Mahrer's apartment building, where they discovered a bag containing a Glock-style pistol equipped with a large-capacity magazine and 17 bullets. This weapon was reportedly tied to Brown's planned attack.
According to the criminal complaint, Brown admitted to police that he ran a white supremacist Twitter group, where Mahrer was one of his followers. Brown also confessed to owning Nazi paraphernalia, telling investigators, "I think it is really cool."
Authorities treated the threat as credible and serious, especially in the wake of recent hate-motivated attacks, such as the May 2022 Buffalo supermarket shooting, which left 10 people dead.
Prosecutor's Commitment to Public Safety
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg emphasized the importance of Brown's sentencing in preventing potential violence. "Today Christopher Brown was sentenced to a significant prison term for arming himself with an illegal firearm as part of his plan to commit an act of terror targeting Manhattan's Jewish community," Bragg stated in a press release.
Bragg reiterated his office's dedication to combating antisemitism and protecting Jewish New Yorkers, vowing to use "every tool possible" to ensure their safety.
Brown had pleaded guilty in September to criminal possession of a weapon as a crime of terrorism, leading to his decade-long prison sentence.
Case Against Accomplice Continues
The legal proceedings against Brown's accomplice, Matthew Mahrer, remain ongoing. Mahrer faces weapons charges but has not been accused of terrorism. His attorney, Gilbert Bayonne, confirmed that Mahrer has pleaded not guilty but provided no additional comment.
Meanwhile, questions linger about the extent of Mahrer's involvement in the planned attack. Brown's sentencing underscores the ongoing vigilance of law enforcement in addressing threats of domestic terrorism and hate-fueled violence.
Newsweek has reached out to Mahrer's attorney for comment via email.
This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press
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